Ian Blackwell joined some of Somerset's all-time batting greats in the record books by notching his second century of the match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

The 23-year-old left-hander, who joined the county from Derbyshire before the start of last season, hit a career-best 122 to follow his equally vital 103 in the first innings as the visitors closed on 430-8, a lead of 162.

It denied bottom-of-the-table Northants their first Championship win of the season and left David Ripley's men without a victory in any competition since May 7.

Blackwell becomes only the 14th Somerset batsman to score two hundreds in a game, emulating the likes of Harold Gimblett, Bill Alley, Roy Virgin and Jimmy Cook.

He shared the last-day honours with Matthew Wood, the 20-year-old Devonian who impressed with 71 on his Championship debut against Yorkshire at Bath a week ago. This time, Wood weighed in with 90 in three hours, including 12 boundaries.

Northants were confident of breaking their duck as Somerset resumed on 130-4, still needing 138 to avoid losing by an innings, but they reckoned without the resilience of Wood, Blackwell and their colleagues.

Jason Brown accounted for Rob Turner and Wood, but Ripley was forced to try nine bowlers in an unsuccessful bid to finish the visitors off.

Blackwell eventually edged a cut at Mike Hussey's occasional medium-pace to end a 166-ball knock featuring a six – off a Paul Taylor long-hop as the veteran seamer tried his hand as a left-arm spinner – and 20 fours.

Just after seeing his side hang on for a draw, Somerset coach Kevin Shine said: "It was a good result for us and I'm very pleased with the battle that we put up. After that poor first session when we slumped to 35 for 6 to rescue the game and get a draw is very pleasing."

Regarding Matthew Wood, who in his second match scored 90, he said: "Woody played very well; first-class cricket seems to suit him.

"He performed well in a pressurised situation, and showed an old head on his young shoulders."

After Ian Blackwell scored a century in each innings, Shine said: "Blackie is a brutal hitter and did very well to get back-to-back hundreds in a difficult situation.It was a great achievement in a situation where the pressure was always on him."

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